GE GTW525 top-load washer will not connect to Wi-Fi or the manufacturer's app

The checks in more detail

This is a design choice for a value washer, not a fault. It is easy to be misled, because GE sells connected washers that look similar and that do pair through the SmartHQ app. Those models show a Wi-Fi light or a Connect option on the control panel and appear in the app after a setup that uses a 2.4 gigahertz network. If your panel has no such light and the label inside the lid shows GTW525, then the washer is one of the plain ones.

You can check the model on GE's product page, which lists the GTW525 as having entry-tier controls without connected features. The washer's controls are mechanical in their logic, which is a benefit when something goes wrong: a long or paused cycle is a matter of load balance or fill, not of software. The low default water level is normal high-efficiency operation; use the Deep Fill option for bulky loads.

The lid locks before the spin. To know when a cycle is finished, rely on the time on the display and the end-of-cycle chime, and avoid long delay starts with wet clothes in the drum. If you want phone notifications, an external alert device that senses vibration is an option, or choose a connected model when you replace the washer. Contact GE with the model number if you are unsure which washer you have.